quash
VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (2)quashed, quashing
- put down by force or intimidation“The government quashes any attempt of an uprising”“China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently”“The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land”Synonyms: represskeep downsubduesubjugatereduceMore general oppress, suppress
- declare invalid“The contract was annulled”“void a plea”Synonyms: invalidateannulvoidavoidnullifyOpposite formaliseMore general cancel, strike downMore specific stet, set aside, break
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Same as Squash.
Origin: OF. quasser, F. casser, fr. L. cassare to annihilate, annul, fr. cassus empty, vain, of uncertain origin. The word has been confused with L. quassare to shake, F. casser to break, which is probably of different origin. Cf. Cashier, transitive verb
Law To abate, annul, overthrow, or make void; as, to quash an indictment. Blackstone, Sir William
Origin: OF. quasser, F. casser, fr. L. quassare to shake, shatter, shiver, v. intens. fr. quatere, quassum, to shake, shatter. Cf. Concussion, Discuss, Rescue, and also Quash to annul.
1. To beat down, or beat in pieces; to dash forcibly; to crush.
The whales Against sharp rocks, like reeling vessels, quashed, Though huge as mountains, are in pieces dashed.— Edmund Waller
2. To crush; to subdue; to suppress or extinguish summarily and completely; as, to quash a rebellion.
Contrition is apt to quash or allay all worldly grief.— Isaac Barrow
To be shaken, or dashed about, with noise.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54